Clutch Case With Integral Lumens For Containing Liquid With Entrained Decorative Material

ABSTRACT

A clutch case comprises a pair of clamshell members hinged together at a bottom edge thereof such that the members, when closed, form an interior chamber for containing objects and, when open, provide access to the interior chamber. Each of the clamshell members has a lumen extending along at least a portion of its perimeter. The lumen is capable of containing a liquid having decorative material entrained therein. In use, tilting the case imparts motion to the entrained decorative material to create a unique visual appearance.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to fashion accessories. In particular, thepresent invention relates to a clutch case, otherwise known as aminaudiere, for containing cosmetics or other personal objects, and isintended to be carried as a handbag.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fashion accessories are a form of personal expression. In the case ofhandbags, not only must the piece serve the functional purpose ofcontaining and conveniently transporting personal items such ascosmetics and credit card holders, but the piece will also convey animpression about the person who carries it.

Unlike conventional handbags, which are static in appearance, thepresent clutch case has a unique, dynamic exterior appearance by virtueof a quantity of liquid contained within the handbag itself. The liquidstream can carry one or more types of decorative material, or two ormore liquids of differing viscosities, to create an image of movementand flow that complements the clothing and other accessories worn by theperson carrying the clutch case.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A clutch case comprises a pair of clamshell members hinged together at abottom edge thereof such that the members when closed form an interiorchamber for containing objects and when open provide access to theinterior chamber. Each of the clamshell members has a lumen extendingalong at least a portion of its perimeter. The lumen is capable ofcontaining a liquid having decorative material entrained therein suchthat tilting the case imparts motion to the entrained decorativematerial to create a unique visual appearance.

The clutch case can further include a clasp for retaining the clamshellmembers in a joined position such that the objects are securely retainedwithin the interior chamber. The clasp is preferably mounted on one ofthe clamshell members by a hinge, and is detachably securable to aretaining member mounted on the other of the clamshell members. Theclasp is preferably maintained in a normally closed position by aresilient member interposed between the clasp and the one of theclamshell members. The preferred resilient member is a spring.

In another embodiment, each of the clamshell members comprises a majorplanar surface and at least one side wall extending perpendicularly fromthe surface toward the other of the clamshell members. At least onesolid bar preferably extends between portions of the at least one sidewall to divide the interior chamber into a plurality of minor interiorchambers. The at least one solid bar preferably interrupts the lumen todefine a plurality of minor lumens. Each of the minor lumens is capableof containing a liquid having different decorative materials entrainedtherein.

In another embodiment, the clamshell members are formed from atransparent material. The interior chamber of this transparentembodiment can accommodate an image mounted therein such that the imageis viewable from the exterior of the clutch case. The image can be aphotograph. The image can be press-fitted in the interior chamber.

The decorative material within each lumen can comprise solid particles.The solid particles can be colored such that the particles arecontrasting in appearance with objects contained within the interiorchamber. The solid particles can be colored white such that motionimparted to the particles creates a snowglobe-like appearance.

The decorative material can also comprise a fluid having a viscositydifferent from that of the liquid, and the fluid can be colored suchthat the fluid contrasts in appearance with the liquid and whencoagulated creates a lava-like appearance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of a clutch case withintegral lumens for containing a liquid with entrained decorativematerial.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the clutch case with integral lumensillustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front sectional view of the clutch case with integrallumens, taken in the direction of arrows 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view, partially in cross-section, of a secondembodiment of a clutch case with integral lumens, shown in the closedposition.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the clutch case embodiment of FIG. 4 inthe open position.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view, partially in cross-section, of theclutch case embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 in the closed position.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a clutch case withintegral lumens, having a design substantially similar to that of FIG.1, with solid bars extending between portions of the side walls todivide the interior chamber into a plurality of minor interior chambersand which also interrupts the lumens to define a plurality of minorlumens.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Turning first to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of a clutch case 10includes a pair of clamshell members 11, 21 hinged together at a bottomedge thereof by hinge 17. Clamshell member 11 includes an exterior shell12 having optional design features formed on its exterior surface, oneof which is shown in FIG. 1 as beveled portion 12 a. Similarly,clamshell member 21 includes an exterior shell 22 having optional designfeatures formed on its exterior surface, one of which is shown in FIG. 1as beveled portion 22 a.

When clutch case 10 is in the closed position shown in FIG. 1, clamshellmembers 11, 21 are retained in the closed position by a clasp 40. In theillustrated embodiment, clasp 40 has a plurality of beveled or facetedsurfaces such that clasp 40 resembles a jewel or precious stone. A clasphinge 44 secures clasp 40 to exterior shell 22 and facilitates pivotalmovement of clasp 40 about hinge 44. Spring 42 interposed between clasp40 and exterior shell 22 maintains clasp 40 in a normally closedposition. A cooperating clasp retaining member 46 on exterior surface 12detachably secures clasp 40 to permit clamshells 11, 21 to be openedapart when clasp 40 is lifted from retaining member 46 or closedtogether when clasp 40 is attached to retaining member 46.

In FIG. 2, an end view of clutch case 10 shows clamshell member 11,which includes an exterior shell 12 having optional design featuresformed on its exterior surface, two of which is shown in FIG. 2 asbeveled portions 12 a, 12 b.

FIG. 3 is a front sectional view of clutch case 10, taken in thedirection of arrows 3-3 in FIG. 2. As shown, clutch case 10 includes apair of clamshell members 11, 21 hinged together at a bottom edgethereof by hinge 17. Clamshell member 11 includes an exterior shell 12.Clamshell member 21 includes an exterior surface 22.

As further shown in FIG. 3, clamshell member 11 includes an interiorshell 14 configured such that a lumen 16 is formed between exteriorshell 12 and interior shell 14. A space 18 is defined at the interiorside of interior shell 14. Similarly, clamshell member 21 includes aninterior shell 24 configured such that a lumen 26 is formed betweenexterior shell 22 and interior shell 24. A space 28 is defined at theinterior side of interior shell 24.

Lumens 16, 26 extend along at least a portion of the perimeter of eachof clamshell members 11, 21. Lumens 16, 26 are capable of containing aliquid having decorative material entrained therein.

When closed, clamshell members 11, 21 form an interior chamber orcompartment defined by the combined spaces 18, 28. The interiorcompartment can receive and securely contain personal objects or itemssuch as keys, cosmetics, a wallet, credit cards, and the like.

As in FIG. 1, clamshell members 11, 21 are retained in the closedposition by a clasp 40, pivotally mounted on exterior shell 22 by hinge44. Spring 42 maintains clasp 40 in a normally closed position, andcooperating clasp retaining member 46 on exterior surface 12 detachablysecures clasp 40 to permit clamshells 11, 21 to be opened apart whenclasp 40 is lifted from retaining member 46 or closed together whenclasp 40 is attached to retaining member 46.

Turning next to FIG. 4, a second embodiment of a clutch case 110includes a pair of clamshell members 111, 121 hinged together at abottom edge thereof. Clamshell member 111 includes an exterior shell 112and an interior shell 114 configured such that a lumen 116 is formedbetween exterior shell 112 and interior shell 114. A space 118 isdefined at the interior side of interior shell 114.

Similarly, clamshell member 121 includes an exterior shell 122 and aninterior shell 124 configured such that a lumen 126 is formed betweenexterior shell 122 and interior shell 124. A space 128 is defined at theinterior side of interior shell 124. Clamshell members 111, 121 arehinged together by cooperating hinge tabs 119 a, 129 a and 119 b, 129 b,which each have a pin (not shown) extending through the tabs.

When closed, clamshell members 111, 121 form an interior chamber orcompartment defined by the combined spaces 118, 128. The interiorcompartment can receive and securely contain personal objects or itemssuch as keys, cosmetics, a wallet, credit cards, and the like.

As further shown in FIG. 4, lumens 116, 126 extend along at least aportion of the perimeter of each of clamshell members 111, 121. Lumens116, 126 are capable of containing a liquid having decorative materialentrained therein.

As shown in FIG. 5, when clamshell members 111, 121 are open, access isprovided to the interior chamber defined by the combined spaces 118,128. FIG. 5 also shows the relative locations of hinge tabs 119 a, 129 aand 119 b, 129 b, which are held together by a pin that is press fittedthrough the tabs. Magnetic closures 132 a, 132 b cooperate to holdclamshell members 111, 121 in the closed position.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the clutch case 110 in the closedposition. As in FIG. 4, clutch case 110 includes clamshell members 111,121 hinged together at a bottom edge thereof. Clamshell member 111includes an exterior shell 112 and an interior shell 114 configured suchthat a lumen 116 is formed between exterior shell 112 and interior shell114. A space 118 is defined at the interior side of interior shell 114.Clamshell member 121 includes an exterior shell 122 and an interiorshell 124 configured such that a lumen 126 is formed between exteriorshell 122 and interior shell 124. A space 128 is defined at the interiorside of interior shell 124. Clamshell members 111, 121 are hingedtogether on one end by cooperating hinge tabs 119 b, 129 b, which have apin 117 extending through the tabs to form a hinge.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a clutch case 210formed by a pair of clamshell members 211, 221 with integral lumens forcontaining a liquid with entrained decorative material 225, shown in theclosed position. Solid bars 229, 239 extend between portions of the sidewalls of clamshell member 221, 231, respectively, to divide the interiorchamber into a plurality of minor interior chambers 223, 233 and whichalso interrupt the lumens to define a plurality of minor lumens.

While particular elements, embodiments and applications of the presentinvention have been shown and described, it will be understood, that theinvention is not limited thereto since modifications can be made bythose skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings.

What is claimed is:
 1. A clutch case comprising a pair of clamshellmembers hinged together at a bottom edge thereof such that said memberswhen closed form an interior chamber for containing objects and whenopen provide access to said interior chamber, each of said clamshellmembers having a lumen extending along at least a portion of itsperimeter, said lumen capable of containing a liquid having decorativematerial entrained therein, whereby tilting said case imparts motion tosaid entrained decorative material to create a unique visual appearance.2. The clutch case of claim 1, further comprising a clasp for retainingsaid clamshell members in a joined position such that said objects aresecurely retained within said interior chamber.
 3. The clutch case ofclaim 2, wherein said clasp is mounted on one of said clamshell membersby a hinge, said clasp detachably securable to a retaining membermounted on the other of said clamshell members, said clasp maintained ina normally closed position by a resilient member interposed between saidclasp and said one of said clamshell members.
 4. The clutch case ofclaim 3, wherein said resilient member is a spring.
 5. The clutch caseof claim 1, wherein each of said clamshell members comprises a majorplanar surface and at least one side wall extending perpendicularly fromsaid surface toward the other of said clamshell members.
 6. The clutchcase of claim 5, wherein at least one solid bar extends between portionsof said at least one side wall to divide said interior chamber into aplurality of minor interior chambers.
 7. The clutch case of claim 6,wherein said at least one solid bar interrupts said lumen to define aplurality of minor lumens.
 8. The clutch case of claim 7, wherein eachof said minor lumens is capable of containing a liquid having differentdecorative materials entrained therein.
 9. The clutch case of claim 1,wherein said clamshell members are formed from a transparent material.10. The clutch case of claim 9, wherein said interior chamberaccommodates an image mounted therein such that said image is viewablefrom the exterior of said clutch case.
 11. The clutch case of claim 10,wherein said image is a photograph.
 12. The clutch case of claim 10,wherein said image is press-fitted in said interior chamber.
 13. Theclutch case of claim 1, wherein said decorative material comprises solidparticles.
 14. The clutch case of claim 13, wherein said solid particlesare colored such that said particles are contrasting in appearance withobjects contained within said interior chamber.
 15. The clutch case ofclaim 14, wherein said solid particles are colored white such thatmotion imparted to said particles creates a snowglobe-like appearance.16. The clutch case of claim 1, wherein said decorative materialcomprises a fluid having a viscosity different from that of said liquid,said fluid colored such that said fluid contrasts in appearance withsaid liquid and when coagulated creates a lava-like appearance.